Semuliki National Park, covering 219 sq km in Bundibugyo District on Uganda’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, protects East Africa’s only true lowland tropical rainforest, an outlying arm of the vast Congo Basin forest reaching its easternmost limit here. Established in October 1993, the park’s low elevation and Central African character make it one of the most distinct and biologically unusual parks in Uganda.
The park at a glance
- 219 sq km in Bundibugyo District, western Uganda, on the border with the DRC
- Established in October 1993, protecting East Africa’s only lowland tropical rainforest
- Home to more than 400 recorded bird species, including 216 true forest birds, and eight primate species
- More than 60 mammal species and nearly 460 butterfly species recorded
A slice of the Congo Basin in Uganda
Because Semuliki’s forest is a continuation of the Ituri forests of the DRC, most of its plants and animals are Central African species reaching the eastern edge of their range here, giving the park a noticeably different character from Uganda’s other forests. Birders travel specifically for Semuliki’s forest specialities, many found nowhere else in East Africa, while the park’s mammals include leopards, hippos, elephants and nine duiker species alongside its eight resident primates.
The Sempaya hot springs
The park’s best-known attraction is the Sempaya hot springs, a mineral-encrusted swamp holding two geothermal features, including the Mumbuga spring, which forms a fountain of boiling water and steam rising nearly 60 cm into the air. The springs’ warm, mineral-rich mud draws shorebirds and provides a natural salt lick for wildlife, and a short guided walk from the park entrance leads visitors directly to the site.
Things to do
- Visiting the Sempaya hot springs and their boiling geothermal fountain
- Birdwatching for Central African forest species found nowhere else in East Africa
- Guided forest walks in search of primates and forest wildlife
- Combining a visit with nearby Fort Portal or Semuliki Valley wildlife reserve
Practical information
- Reached from Fort Portal, about two hours by road through the Rwenzori foothills
- Best combined with a wider western Uganda itinerary rather than visited alone
- Best visited in the dry seasons, June to September and December to February
Semuliki National Park offers a genuinely different forest experience within easy reach of Fort Portal. Offmap Safaris can add it to a western Uganda circuit alongside Kibale and the Rwenzori Mountains. To start planning, visit Plan My African Safari, message us on WhatsApp at +256 701 243 304, or email [email protected]. See also our notes on health and safety and responsible travel.